British Citizenship – Good Character Requirement FAQs

[Kust84]

This issue Kust84, is whether your caution needs to be declared. If so, then as 3 years has lapsed it should not pose an issue. It may be beneficial to declare the caution regardless as to prevent a deception allegation.

The speed awareness course is not relevant and doesn't need to be declared.

Thanks for your reply, I will declare everything for sure as I thing the risk of deception isn't worth it.
Any way I just realise that I need to wait few more months as I'm living in UK at five and half years now and I can only apply after 5+1 is that right ? Would you advice me to send a cover letter with it ? This way the case worker can have a better perception of the matter.Many thanks.

[newbie_t]

newbie_t, as 3 years has lapsed you should be ok. It must be declared as a criminal conviction.

Thank you Amber_

[Tigersfoot]

I wonder if anyone can advise me. I renounced citizenship in order to gain citizenship to my country of residence. I am now re-applying for British Citizenship and notice that the rules on disclosing spent convictions has changed. 30 years ago I was found guilty of shop lifting. I was 17 at the time of offense and 18 at the time of the conviction. I have no idea what the date of this was, I don't even know the name of the offense....I was shop lifting dog food - a stupid choice in my screwed up life at the time. It was my one and only offense, I paid my fine, and went on to get a tertiary education and live a fully productive life.

I understand I need to disclose this, but will it result in a denial of my citizenship application?

Very worried. Thanks.

[0y3y1nk4]

Hi.... Just want to know my chances of getting Naturalised....Got a criminal records.... Deception\fraud but that was in 1999, got custodial sentence of 12 months(so spent now) got some fines and traffic offences (driving while disqualified and driving with no Insurance) those are 2007.... now I have a clean drivers Licence.. my Driving with no insurance was in 2000....don't know if its 5 years or 3 years to be classified as spent.... I have a refugee status and currently have a Travelling Document got kids and married to a British citizen for 15 years now.... if I apply now for Naturalisation do you think I will be granted...thanks

[Amber]

Imprisonment of between 12 months and 4 years = refusal for 15 years from the end of the sentence.

[0y3y1nk4]

Just checked, I finished my sentence in February 1998 so its spent now.... do you think I have a chance..thanks

[Amber]

Yes, declare all convictions.

[0y3y1nk4]

Thanks... really appreciate your reply.... one more thing please, the driving offence is it 5 years or 3 years before its declared as spent... thanks again.

[Amber]

3 years before it's lapsed rather than spent.

[Kust84]

This issue Kust84, is whether your caution needs to be declared. If so, then as 3 years has lapsed it should not pose an issue. It may be beneficial to declare the caution regardless as to prevent a deception allegation.

The speed awareness course is not relevant and doesn't need to be declared.

Hi Amber
Just a quick question, I manage to talk with the gentleman that give that caution on February 2010 and he Saied to me that is a civil matter not a criminal, and should not count on this meter. Any way I thing is better to disclose this on the form, he said if I want I can put is name on the cover letter with his number and anything he will back me up on this.
Do you thins I should send a covering letter with it ?
Another question is I was evicted in 2012 because my land lord decided to sell the propriety nothing to do with debts also I have one letter from landlord/agency saying that I'm a good tenant and they will fully recommend me without any problem. I understand that is a ccj and I have to disclose as well, my question is this will have a negative impact on my application. many thanks

[Amber]

A caution is not a civil matter, the 'gentleman' must be a police officer, they deal with criminal matters.

The caution must be declared as must the CCJ given the lapsed time, should have no bearing.

[Kust84]

A caution is not a civil matter, the 'gentleman' must be a police officer, they deal with criminal matters.

The caution must be declared as must the CCJ given the lapsed time, should have no bearing.

Hi again Amber first of all thank you very much for your replays.
I just want to say when I spoke with that gentlemen on the telephone last week, we told me the he is special projects manager at local authority, and he told me that caution is only kipped from 5 year at local council and DWP just in case of if I commit another thing, they will have a record, he told me that is never recorded at CR. That's way he told me it's not a criminal but a civil matter like civil penalty.
Do you agree with that ?
many thanks .

[Amber]

Yes if it's a DWP caution for benefit fraud then it's not a simple police caution. However, for the purpose of Good Character, you have claimed benefits you were not entitled to and admitted such by accepting a caution.

I thought this was a police caution not benefit fraud caution.

[Kust84]

As I had explain at the first post, at the time I was completely ignorant with this things and my English wast enough to fill the forms so I get someone to do it for me as a result I was caution, but when I went to the interview they understud that was a genuine case of miss understanding as well as wasn't deliberated and diceded not doing anything a part of this warning. Actually all of then saied to me the just gonna give me the warning because it's part of the process. Since that time always I got any questions about the benefit system I call to that gentleman. He gave me is direct line nuber, that's why I know is not a police officer, and last time we spoke he saied if I decided to disclose this on the form to not put as a criminal caution because it's not criminal it's civil, and if I want I can send a cover letter explaing what had happened with his number and if the HO contact him we hill explain and back me up . Thank you Amber . But can you tell me Do I need to disclose this and do you think that's going to affect my application ? Thank you so mucth .

[Amber]

I would disclose it, and put in information about what happened and give the DWP officer's number. You should be fine.

[Kust84]

Amber THANK YOU for all support and answers, I will disclose this as well as I going to send a cover letter with it so the case worker can have a better perception regarding my case. Also I spoke with my manager,I work for the same company nearly 6 years now, and he told me if I want I can write a letter saying that am hard working bla bla bla , do you think I will benefit with it or I just too much information, and its better to keep it simple ? thanks once again .

[Amber]

Supporting evidence is always good where there has been a 'blip'.

[Despemv]

Hi,

I am about to make my British citizenship application.
However, I need some advice and clarification on informations to declare.

In 2006, I was arrested, detained and falsely charged for (possession & using) a false document (passport). I was subsequently taking to court for which i pleaded NOT guilty and was remanded for a few day before I was granted bail.

The case went to court but the CPS offered NO evidence at court, so the charges were dropped and I was discharged and acquited.

So my question is: Do I have to explain this to the HO for the purpose of Good Character even though I don't have any cautions, warnings or reprimand? (Had a basic CRB check done for employment in 2009 and record was clean).

I believe it will come up on the PNC when they carry out their checks, but the application form AN does not ask if one has been previously arrested or charged in the UK.

Please help, I am a little confused on how to go about it.

Thanks

D

[Amber]

No.

[Despemv]

No.

Thank you Amber_ for your response.

Just to reiterate, so I can go ahead and make my application without any worries of declaring the police and court proceedings that resulted in me been acquitted?

[Amber]

Yes, you can.

[Despemv]

Yes, you can.

Thank you very much for your input, I feel much better now.

One more question please, Do the HO carry out PNC check and is it grounds for refusal?

[Amber]

Yes they do and it should have no bearing, provided you're not involved in criminal activity.

[Despemv]

Yes they do and it should have no bearing, provided you're not involved in criminal activity.

Yes I am not involved in any criminal activity, thank you so much Amber_ for your responses.

[virgo_mermaid]

Hi, I submitted my application yesterday (27.03) however I din't declare my lc30 conviction. I had been looking on the internet for information about it and I was pretty convinced it was just a fixed penalty notice. Anyway it happened in 2006 and it cleared of my license in 2010, also my last points cleared of my licensed in July last year.
Is that going to affect my application in any way?